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RICHMOND - From 4 p.m. Monday through 4 a.m. Tuesday, Virginia State Police troopers and dispatchers statewide fielded 2,231 calls for service statewide, according to a news release.

During the 12-hour period, Virginia troopers responded to 825 traffic crashes and 620 disabled vehicles. The majority of the crashes involved damaged vehicles only. Due to vehicles losing control on slick roadways, two VSP troopers were struck and injured, the release said. Police also confirm one traffic fatality in Loudon County.

RICHMOND — A legislative panel has rejected a proposal that could lead to automatically restoring rights of nonviolent felons after they have completed their sentences.

Those qualified still must petition the governor to restore their rights.

The resolution (SJ238) sought a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to decide whether to automatically restore some rights, such as the right to vote, for nonviolent felons who have fully completed their sentences, including probation.

For two local police dispatchers, their life-saving efforts got them recognized in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Galax police dispatchers Tim Webb and Justin Wooten were working dispatch on Dec. 29, 2014, when an emergency call came through from the Skyland Estates section of Fancy Gap. Cheri Grable, watching her sick grandson, was on the line, desperate for help.

Payback first
I cannot believe Supervisor Bob Martin would even consider making a motion to appoint Billy Mitchell to serve on the Carroll Planning Commission after taking more than $400,000 in Carroll funds. Give the job to a law-abiding citizen and let Billy Mitchell apply for a public job after he has paid back his $93,547 [in remaining restitution to the county].

RICHMOND — With two weeks left in Virginia’s annual legislative session, lawmakers still have hundreds of bills on table.

The House and Senate have each completed work on their respective bills and before their Feb. 28 adjournment are now considering bills passed by the other chamber.

Some prominent issues, including tightening ethics rules for elected officials and keeping intact a prohibition on Medicaid expansion, have largely been resolved. Legislators also are close to agreement on updates to the state budget.